Photo provided by Warner Bros.-- Tom Hardy stars as Max in a scene from the film, "Mad Max: Fury Road." The film has been re-released for a limited time.

A fan high-fives another fan dressed as Star Wars' Darth Vader during preview night at the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention held Wednesday, July 23, 2014 in San Diego. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Invision/AP)

John Masuzumi waits in line to get into the exhibit hall on preview night at the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention held Wednesday, July 23, 2014 in San Diego. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Invision/AP)

Chris Keyes poses for photographers outside the convention center during preview night at the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention held Wednesday, July 23, 2014 in San Diego. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Invision/AP)

Invision/AP photo by Denis Poroy -- Monique Soto takes a selife with a Guardians of the Galaxy Rocket Racoon figurine during preview night at the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention in July 2014 in San Diego.

Invision/AP photo by DENIS POROY -- Fans walk past a Smaug the Dragon display during preview night at the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention in San Diego in 2014.

A young fan poses with a huge Transformers display during preview night at the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention held Wednesday, July 23, 2014 in San Diego. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Invision/AP)

A Comic-Con fan wears goggles as he sits in the X-Men Cerebral Experience during preview night at the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention held Wednesday, July 23, 2014 in San Diego. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Invision/AP)

Fans start lining up as Comic-Con floor opens

Photo provided by Warner Bros.-- Tom Hardy stars as Max in a scene from the film, "Mad Max: Fury Road." The film has been re-released for a limited time.

A fan high-fives another fan dressed as Star Wars' Darth Vader during preview night at the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention held Wednesday, July 23, 2014 in San Diego. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Invision/AP)

John Masuzumi waits in line to get into the exhibit hall on preview night at the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention held Wednesday, July 23, 2014 in San Diego. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Invision/AP)

Chris Keyes poses for photographers outside the convention center during preview night at the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention held Wednesday, July 23, 2014 in San Diego. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Invision/AP)

Invision/AP photo by Denis Poroy -- Monique Soto takes a selife with a Guardians of the Galaxy Rocket Racoon figurine during preview night at the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention in July 2014 in San Diego.

Invision/AP photo by DENIS POROY -- Fans walk past a Smaug the Dragon display during preview night at the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention in San Diego in 2014.

A young fan poses with a huge Transformers display during preview night at the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention held Wednesday, July 23, 2014 in San Diego. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Invision/AP)

A Comic-Con fan wears goggles as he sits in the X-Men Cerebral Experience during preview night at the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention held Wednesday, July 23, 2014 in San Diego. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Invision/AP)

Comic-Con is all about bringing fans close to the artists and properties they love — after navigating crowds and waiting in line.

The lineups began as soon as the San Diego Convention Center opened its doors. Fans with four-day passes to the sold-out pop-culture spectacular gained early admission to the showroom floor Wednesday night, where they were the first to see a 10-foot-tall Transformer, a Lego Spider-Man and a life-sized, road-ready Hot Wheels car inspired by Darth Vader.

Some planned to wait in line overnight for a chance to attend the most popular film and TV presentations, which begin Thursday. But first, they queued up inside the convention center to buy limited-edition toys released just for the festival.

“You buy it here, you sell it on eBay and it pays for your whole trip,” said Chris Schultz, a 26-year-old from Edmonton, Canada. After shopping at the Marvel booth, where he bought “Guardians of the Galaxy” merchandise in multiples, he was set to “give up all night in line” to earn a spot inside the 6,500-seat exhibition hall where movie and TV studios present exclusive previews of anticipated properties.

“For Hall H, it’s worth it,” he said.

“Game of Thrones” and “The Walking Dead” are expected to be major draws, as are panels from Warner Bros. and Marvel Studios.

But even those who don’t make it into Hall H can get a taste of their favorite programs on the showroom floor. “The Walking Dead” offered a recreation of its Terminus set, inviting fans to creep through a dark tunnel and have their photo taken in the jail-like setting. The A&E show “Bates Motel” also had a photo booth, where fans could pose with taxidermy animals.

After more than four decades of Comic-Con, the festival has outgrown the San Diego Convention Center and spills out onto neighboring streets and hotels. A giant Parkour course occupies the normally vacant grassy area just across from the convention center, while the nearby baseball stadium, Petco Park, boasts a Fun House built by Adult Swim.

Wonder Women, Batmen and other costumed characters fill the downtown streets, where businesses have been transformed into temporary showcases for video games, toys and movies.

“You can’t get this stuff anywhere else,” said Lionel Torres, 47, who traveled from North Carolina to buy collectible toys and indulge in community fandom. “People are fighting for a place in line, but there’s camaraderie out there.”

Comic-Con, which attendee Sara Brushaber described as “the nerd hub of the world,” continues through Sunday.